Folding door construction



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United States Patent 3,015,359 FGLDING D0011 CONSTRUCTION Ray E. Ggburn, 4115-4125 46th St., Bladensbin'g, Md. Filed Apr. 1, 1960, Ser. No. 19,263 2 Claims. (Cl. 160-296) This invention pertains generally to a folding door construction, and more specifically, to a folding door construction provided with a guide assembly.

One important objective of the invention resides in the provision of a folding door which is adapted to be moved from a non-folded extended position, to a folded position wherein it is entirely clear of the door opening, and wherein the folded doors are located in closely spaced, substantially parallel relationship to the adjoining wall surface.

It has previously been known to supply folding doors having an associated guide track, but these doors have utilized pivot pins and the like in mounting the doors in the door opening, and have depended upon their connection with the guide means as a primary support for the doors. By means described hereinafter, the present invention renders it possible to use a hinge-type mounting for the door panels, the hinge mounting of the door panels serving as the primary support for said panels, and the support means being wholly independent of the guide assembly. This hinge mounting, in conjunction with the guide means employed, and the form and arrangement of the various component elements of the invention results in the following improvements over the previously known constructions of this general character:

The necessity for an unsightly, objectionable, wide clearance between the door panels and the edge of the door frame is obviated;

Warpage and consequent binding of doors often encountered in pivotal mountings is effectively reduced;

Maintenance of doors is made considerably simpler and less time-consuming; and

The necessity for a bottom track or guide is eliminated.

Hence, it is an objective of importance to provide a folding door construction, including a guide assembly, wherein the door panels are connected by means of hinges and one of the panels is mounted on the associated door frame by means of hinges.

Another objective of importance resides in the provision, in a construction as outlined above, of a guide assembly which includes means for quickly and easily detaching the folding doors from the guide assembly so that the inner portions of the doors are rendered readily accessible for painting, cleaning, or other maintenance operations.

Yet another objective is the provision of a folding door construction wherein each of the door panels making up the door are of equal dimension, thereby simplifying installation and repair, and removing the necessity of carrying a large inventory of parts for the door installations.

Among the additional objects and advantages of the invention provided herein is that the door panels per so are adapted to be positioned entirely within the door opening, rather than in front of the opening, whenthe door panels are in the extended non-folded position. Also, it is of importance that the majority of the components of the door may be formed, if desired, of materials normally used in conventional construction, and the door construction of this invention may therefore be easily finished in a manner correctly matching the finish of the conventional doors and trim used in the same structure.

ice

sideration of the following specification, when read in connee-ion with the annexed drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a first form of folding door installation constructed and assembled in accordance with the teachings of this invention, this installation being of the type preferably employed in a relatively narrow door opening;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary perspective of a second form of folding door installation within the broad scope of this invention, the door opening being relative wide, and two folding doors being employed;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged, detail, fragmentary crosssectional view taken on the line 3-3 of FIGURE 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged, vertical cross-sectional view taken substantially on the line 44 of FIGURE 2, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged, horizontal cross-sectional view taken on the line 55 of FIGURE 1, looking in the direction of the arrows, this view showing the door panels in an extended non-folded position in full line, and showin an intermediate position in phantom lines;

FIGURE 6 is a view similar to FIGURE 5, this view illustrating the panels in a folded position in full lines, and showing yet another intermediate position in phantom lines; and

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged, detail, cross-sectional view of the retracti'ole detent means employed herein, this section being taken substantially on the line 7--7 of F1 URE 4, looking in the direction of the arrows.

As set forth hereinbefore, it has previously been known to supply folding door constructions which have guide assemblies of various arrangements associated therewith. In recent years, these folding doors have found considerable utilization in the trade, palticularly in the construction and renovation of residential buildings. The present invention is directed to certain improvements in folding door constructions, said improvements having been found to render the same especially desirable in those circumstances where appearance of the finished installation and the mounting of the doors within a limited amount of space are important features, as will appear more fully below.

Referring now to the drawings, and with initial reference to FIGURES 1 and 3, the door construction pro vided by this invention is generally designated by reference character 18. cludes a door opening in a wall formed ofspaced-apart wall panels 12, 1d, of any commonly known type of material. The opening is formed by conventional construction techniques, and is framed out by a substantially horizontal top stud 1e, and a pair of laterally spaced, parallel and confronting side studs 18, 2t (FIGURES 5 and 6).

An elongated, substantially rectangular header or top jamb 22 underlies the top stud 16 and the adjacent edges of the wall panels 12, 14, and is fixedly secured thereto. it is to be noted, in FlGURES 3 and 4-, that the header 22 has inner and outer side portions 24, 26,- respectively,

and that the inner side portion 24 is cut away along one secured to the side studs 18, 29, and in conjunction with the header 22, serve to frame out the door opening. The

7 door opening is provided with trim elements 33 of any desired type, the trim being applied to surround the top and side edges of the opening.

Fixedly secured in the slot 28 .of the header 22 is an elongated guide frame 34. In the first described form of the invention, the frame 34 comprises an elongated,

substantially solid main body portion 36 having a pair The environment of the installation in-- 3 of oPpOSite ends 38, 40', a generally rectilinear inner side 42, and an opposing outer side 44. In FIGURES S and 6, it will be noted that the main body portion 36 is of substantially constant, relatively narrow width for approximately that one-half of its length which is adjacent the jamb 32, and that from substantially themidpoint of the main body portion 36, the same is gradually increased in width to a point 46 spaced from but adjacent to the end 40 thereof. From the point 46 to the end 40, the main body portion 36 is substantially constant in width and is relatively wide. An elongated, downwardly opening slot 48 is formed in the main body portion 36, adjacent the side edge 44 thereof, and corresponds to the conformation thereof. The slot 48 terminates at a point spaced from the end 40, but it is important that the slot extend at least beyond a point transversely aligned with the jamb 36.

The slot 48 is provided with an enlongated, channelshaped liner 50 preferably formed of a non-metallic material, for example, a self-lubricating plastic fiber such as that sold under the trademark Fibre Crack. The liner 50 includes a bight portion 52, and a pair of spaced and confronting arms 54, 56, and the liner 50 is secured in the slot 48 with the bight portion 52 disposed against the bottom of said slot and the arms 54, 56 disposed against the sides thereof so as to form a downwardly opening track means in said guide assembly.

The folding door forming a part of this invention is generally identified by reference character 58 and includes a pair of substantially rectangular, flat door panels 6% and 62. The panels 60 and 62, prior to installation and finishing, are identical and of equal dimension. However, the panel 62 is, during the assembly operation, provided with a plurality of hinge plates64 along the distal side edge 66 thereof, which hinge plates mate with a like plurality of hinge plates 68 secured along one edge of the jamb 30. The plates 64 and 68 are arranged such that the respective hinge sleeve portions thereof are spaced at a predetermined distance forwardly of the adjacent wall panel 12, and in such location, pins 69 are adapted to be passed therethrough thereby 'hingedly securing the panel 62 to the jamb 30. They aforementioned predetermined distance is such that the hinge sleeves are located forwardly of the wall panel a distance equaling the thickness of the trim 33, thereby enabling the panel 62 to be swung on the hinge to a location substantially parallel to the wall panel 12.

Secured to the proximal side edge 70 of the door panel 62 are a second plurality of hinge plates 72 arranged with the hinge sleeves directed oppositely of the sleeves of the plates 64. The plates 72 mate with a like plurality of hinge plates 74 secured to the proximalside edge 76 of the panel 60, and binge pins 78 are provided in the sleevm, thus hingedly securing the panels 60 and 62 to one another. Handle means 80 is provided for the panel 60 and is preferably located adjacent the proximal side edge 76 thereof.

The panel 6 is provided with a detent mechanism 82 best illustrated in FIGURE 7 of the drawing. The detent mechanism 82 is mounted on the distal side edge 84 of the panel 60. The upper corner of the panel 60 has a generally rectangular chamber 86 formed therein which opens on the side edge 84'and along the top edge 88 thereof. A generally L-shaped plate 90 including a leg portion 92 and a foot portion 94 is provided and overlies the chambe'r 86, with the footport'ion 34 extending along the'uppersurface, 88 of the door, and the leg portion 92 extending along the side edge 84. Screws 98, 100 are utili'zed in fixedly panel 60i securing the plate 90 to the door An-elongated lug 102 is disposed in the chamber 86 and has a'cylindrical upper portion 194 and a rectangular lower portion 106.. The upper portion 104 is adapted for reciprocation within an aperture 108 ,formedinthe leg portion'94 of the plate 90, and an operating lever 110 V is secured to the portion 106 and extends through an i elongated slot 112 formed in a depressed portion 114 of the leg portion 92 of the plate 90. A resilient spacer 116 is secured to the rectangular portion 196 so as to correctly space the lug 102 from the leg portion, and prevent binding of the portion 104 in the aperture 108, the resilient spacer 116 having an opening adjacent its lower end through which the lever extends.

In FIGURES 5 and 6, it will be noted that elongated stops 116, 118 are secured to the jambs 30' and 32, respectively. The stops 11 6, 118 serve to correctly position the door panels 64} and 62 when intheir extended positions, closing the door opening. An important feature of this invention is the provision of a stop guide 120 which is secured to the stop 118. The stop guide 120 is substantially V-shaped, and includes a base 122 and an arm 124, the arm extending from the base at substantially a 45 angle. Screw means 1 6 extend through the base 122 to secure the same to the stop 118. Thus, the arm 124 is located so as to guide the panel 60 toward its extended position seen in FIGURE 5.

As will be noted from the foregoing description, door panels 60 and 62 are adapted to be hinged together so that they open outwardly, and the panel 62 is hinged to the jamb 3! also for outward pivotal movement. In order to open the door 58 outward force is applied through the handle means 80. This results in a movement of the panels as shown in FIGURES 5 and 6, through a full pivot from an extended non-folded position to a folded position. In the folded position, the doors are completely clear of the door opening.

In FIGURE 2, it is to be noted that a slightly modified construction is illustrated, this construction being of specal adaptation to relatively wide door openings. Two doors are provided in this case, and the assembly of the doors is substantially the same as that described above except that two oppositely mounted pairs of panels are utilized. As shown in thedrawing, the doors may be of the louvered type, if desired. The only departure in this modification resides in the construction of the guide assembly to provide for the two-door arrangement. In this connection, a guide assembly is provided and is denoted in the drawing by reference numerals 34a, the unit 34a including a main body portion 36a. The main body portion 36a has a rectilinear side edge 38a and an opposte side edge 49a, as well as ends 42a, 44a. The midportion 46a of the main body is of a constant, narrow width, and on both sides of said midportion there is a gradual increase in width to points 48a, 50a, from whence the width is again substantially constant but is increased with respect'to that of the said midportion.

An elongated slot 52a is formed in the main body 36a in closely spaced parallel relationship to the edge 40a, and a liner 54a having the characteristics described with respect to the liner 50 is inserted therein.

The operation of the double door arrangement is substantially the same as described above. By means of the provision of the guide assembly 34a, each of the doors 58 may he moved from, fully closed positions wherein the panels thereof are'disposed in flat, side-by-side relationship closing oif the door opening, to fully open positions wherein the panels arelocated in closely spaced, substantially parallel and confronting" relationship to the associated wall. In the last named position, the panels are wholly clear of the door opening, and present no obstacle in the way of said opening. Should it be de sired to disconnect the door panels from the. guide assemblies so as to expose the inner portions thereof for maintenance, painting, or the like, the detent mechanism 82 is utilized by pressing downwardly on the lever 112 thereby disengaging the upper end portion 102 of the lug 102 from the guide track 50, thus allowing the panel 62 to be swung outwardly, and exposing the entire rear surface of the. door panels for the aforesaid operations.

In order to replace the detent mechanism in an operative location, this procedure is merely reversed.

5 Having described and illustrated two embodiments of this inventon in somewhat complete detail, it is to be understood that these embodiments are offered merely by way of example, and that this invention is to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is: v

1. A folding door assembly for use with a door frame mounted in a wall having a door opening therein, the door frame including vertical, spaced side frame members, and a horizontal top frame, the folding door assembly comprising:

(a) a folding door including at least two door panels hinged to one another, one of the door panels being hinged to one of the side frame members of the door frame;

(17) the panels being adapted for movement from an extended non-folded position wherein they are arranged in side-by-side relationship to bridge the door opening interiorly thereof, to a folded position wherein the panels are located substantially parallel to each other and to the adjacent wall exteriorly of the opening;

() a guide assembly for guiding the doors in the movement thereof, comprising- (d) an elongated flat body portion secured to the top frame member of the door frame and including an outer side;

(e) the body portion having a slot formed therein, a first portion or" said slot being disposed throughout substantially one-half of its length interiorly of the opening in the vertical plane of the door panels when in said extended position, said slot including a second portion rhsposed in a vertical plane extending transversely of said first named vertical plane, and a final portion exteriorly of the opening which is disposed in substantially the vertical plane of the other of said panels when in said folded position;

(f) the body portion including a first portion in which the first named portion of the slot is formed, the first portion of the body portion being disposed interiorly of the door frame;

hinged to one another, the folding doors being mounted in a door frame which includes spaced, vertical side frame members and a horizontal top frame member, the

1(} guide frame comprising:

(a) an elongated flat body portion including an outer side secured to the top frame member;

(b) said body portion having a slot formed therein,

a first portion of said slot being disposed throughout substantially one-half of its length interiorly of the opening, the slot including a second portion extending transversely of the first portion, and a final portion exteriorly of the opening;

(0) the body portion including a first portion in which the first named portion of the slot is formed, the first portion of the body portion being disposed interiorly of the door frame;

(d) the body portion further including a second portion containing said second and final portion of said slot;

(2) a flexible liner for the slot, the slot liner receiving an upwardly projecting detent on one of said folding doors; and

(f) the outer side of the body portion being contoured in parallelism with the slot therein.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,191,223 Plice July '18, 1916 1,395,080 Barrows Oct. 25, 1921 2,585,645 Freitay Feb. 12, 1952 2,841,219 Helwig July 1, 1958 2,860,761 Wood et a1. Nov. 18, 1958 2,910,748 Greenman Nov. 3, 1959 

